I Am First Too

About

I Am First Too celebrates the success of first-generation students, faculty, staff, and alumni at the University of Kansas. We aim to build a network and a sense of pride among students, faculty, staff, and alumni who identify as first-generation college students.
I Am First Too Logo

What is a first-generation college student?

Being a first-generation college student means that none of your parents or guardians received a bachelor’s degree.
A large group of studnets, faculty, and staff wearing red to symbolize being first-generation

Annual Poster

One of the initiatives is the honoring of individuals who have excelled as role models, trailblazers, and advocates of first-generation student success. These individuals will be featured annually on a commemorative poster published by the TRIO SSS office.

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2025 Poster

The twelve individuals featured on the fourth annual poster include: Jesús Cooper-Pereda, B.S.Ed., Emily Costner, Jennifer Delgado, Ph.D., Dallas Doane, Ed.D., Kevin Foster, B.S., Sabrina Gregersen, Ph.D., Ashley Hernandez, B.A., Jody Johnson, M.Ed., Marsha McCartney, Ph.D., Senator Jerry Moran, Curtis Nelson, B.S., and Cassie Nix, M.S.
2025 I Am First Too commemorative poster honoring twelve individuals at KU who have excelled as role models, trailblazers and advocates for first-generation student success. Honorees include students, faculty, staff and alumni. Poster features photos and names of all honorees

2024 Poster

The twelve individuals featured on the fourth annual poster include: Sonali Bhakta, Provost Barbara Bichelmeyer, Michael Chavez, M.S.Ed., Sara Chavez, M.Ed./M.A., Hong Chuong, M.S.E., David Coria, B.S., Paige M. Freeman, M.S.E., Alejandra Hernández-Castro, M.S., Ella Hinson, B.S.W., Laura Malagon-Palacios, B.A., Laura Ramirez, M.S.W., and Kelly Kaye Young M.S.W.
2024 I Am First Too commemorative poster honoring twelve individuals at KU who have excelled as role models, trailblazers and advocates for first-generation student success. Honorees include students, faculty, staff and alumni. Poster features photos and names of all honorees

2023 Poster

The twelve individuals featured on the fourth annual poster include:
Anna Balmilero, Jacob Chamberlin, Deanna Hanson-Abromeit, Nikita Haynie, Erin Kelley-Garrison, Kylie Kookesh, Angel Martin Meza-González, Michael Oliver, Irene Olivares, Anna Pope, Dawn Tallchief, and Ladazhia Taylor.
2023 I Am First Too commemorative poster honoring twelve individuals at KU who have excelled as role models, trailblazers and advocates for first-generation student success. Honorees include students, faculty, staff and alumni. Poster features photos and names of all honorees on a royalblue background with yellow, red, and white text.

2022 Poster

The twelve individuals featured on the fourth annual poster include:
Madison Ehlert-Robinson, Rick Ginsberg, Lori Hasselman, Megan Londeen, LilliAnna Lucio, Marissa Marchall, Kathy Martinez Reynaga, Reginald L. Mitchell, Derek Reed, Kristin M. Rennells, Margo Stokebrand, and Michael Vitevitch.
2022 I Am First Too commemorative poster honoring twelve individuals at KU who have excelled as role models, trailblazers and advocates for first-generation student success. Honorees include students, faculty, staff and alumni. Poster features photos and names of all honorees on a dark-blue background with yellow, red, and white text.

2021 Poster

The twelve individuals featured on the third annual poster include:
​Dalton Allen, Myltin Bighorn, Jordan A. Brandt, Amy Burgin, Meghan Ecker-Lyster, Wichahpi King, Neal Kingston, Melody K. Lawrence, Charlesia McKinney, Kim Nguyễn, Melissa Peterson, and Ngan Tran.
2021 I Am First Too commemorative poster honoring twelve individuals at KU who have excelled as role models, trailblazers and advocates for first-generation student success. Honorees include students, faculty, staff and alumni. Poster features photos and names of all honorees on a sandy colored background with red and blue text.

2020 Poster

The twelve individuals featured on the second annual poster include:
L.Marie Avila, LaTisha Davis, Greg Hamel, Jirick Hunter, Steven Johnson, Mulubrhan Lemma, Ludwin Molina, Angie Pastorek, Mensi Patel, Precious Porras, Diana L. Restrepo-Osorio, and Kasi Ross II
2020 I Am First Too commemorative poster honoring twelve individuals at KU who have excelled as role models, trailblazers and advocates for first-generation student success. Honorees include students, faculty, staff and alumni. Poster features photos and names of all honorees on a light-blue background with red and dark blue text.

2019 Poster

The twelve individuals featured on the first annual poster include:
Sarah Bregman, LaDarius Brooks, Constanza Castro Zúñiga, Hume Feldman, Howard Grahm, Jennifer Hamer, Ngondi Kamatuka, Genaro Méndez, Nancy Varela, Tonya Waller, Jennifer Wilmot, and Michelle Wilson
2019 I Am First Too commemorative poster honoring twelve individuals at KU who have excelled as role models, trailblazers and advocates for first-generation student success. Honorees include students, faculty, staff and alumni. Poster features photos and names of all honorees on a dark-blue background with red and white text.